Former Lloyds bank worker admits multi-million pound fraud (From Croydon Guardian)

Former Lloyds bank worker admits multi-million pound fraud

4:49pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

The former head of online security at Lloyds Bank has admitted to defrauding the company of more than £2.4m.

Jessica Harper, 50, of Crest Road, South Croydon, was accused of submitting false invoices to claim payments between 2007 and 2011.

At the time she was working as head of fraud and security for the bank’s digital banking section and made false claims totalling £2,463,750.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court today she admitted a single charge of fraud by abuse of position at Southwark Crown Court.

She also admitted to transferring the money to her account. Harper was granted bail and will be sentenced on September 21.

Sue Patten, head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Central Fraud Division, said: "Jessica Harper has today been convicted of the type of crime the bank employed her to combat.

"The evidence in the case was clear and left Harper with little choice but to plead guilty. "In doing so, she has admitted to a huge breach of trust against her former employer."